Sala defeats Iddings in probate judge race

Thursday

ADRIAN — Like in the primary election, the counting of votes in the Lenawee County probate judge race went into the early morning hours as the race remained too close to call.

This time, the result of the voting was known when the final returns were reported. Attorney Catherine Sala defeated incumbent Judge Gregg P. Iddings by 107 votes, 17,278 to 17,171.

“I am truly grateful for every person who came out to vote, to my supporters in every corner of our county, and for the opportunity to serve as the next probate court judge,” Sala said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Sala finished second in the primary behind Iddings, but she had to win a tie-breaker and survive a countywide recount and a partial recount with Lenawee County Friend of the Court director and circuit court administrator Kristi Drake. State election law says that two candidates advance to the general election if only one position will be filled.

Sala and Drake both made an issue in the race of Iddings’ six-month suspension without pay in 2017 for sexually harassing his former secretary over a three-year period. Iddings reported himself to the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, which recommended to the state Supreme Court that Iddings be suspended for 60 days. The Supreme Court, after reviewing the county’s investigative report, ordered the six-month suspension. Iddings also had to complete counseling and attend a course on maintaining proper boundaries at his own expense.

Iddings asked voters to look at his record on the bench. He admitted to making a mistake of joking around with his secretary and asked for redemption, like people who come to his court for making a mistake.

Sala also ran on wanting the court to make more use of mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Iddings said the court already uses mediation when appropriate and has helped other organizations, such as the Adrian Public Schools, use alternative dispute resolution methods.

“I look forward to developing new programs that better serve our community both in and out of the probate court,” Sala said. “We will be a people-first Court. That means strengthening existing relationships with community organizations and forming new partnerships to move in a positive direction.”

She also asked that the community move beyond the emotions raised by the campaign.

“I am calling on our community leaders to help heal the divisions created by the process of the election, and to move forward with mutual respect for all the voices we heard. Let’s make the best of different perspectives to create inclusive and creative solutions in our service to self and others.”

The Daily Telegram was unable to contact Iddings for comment.

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